Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Biofuel From Algae Market Potential 2012" report to their offering.
Driven by climate change concerns and the rising cost of petroleum-based energy, companies and government entities are developing the use of biofuels derived from algae to reduce carbon emissions from power plants and generate renewable transportation fuels.
Algae is one of the most promising sources of biodiesel as it is biodegradable and can be produced using ocean and waste water without depleting fresh water resources.
This report examines the vast global market potential of biofuel from algae. It explores the technology, new research, and profiles the major players developing this next-generation biofuel.
Soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons. But algae are expected to produce 10,000 gallons per acre per year, and eventually even more.
Algae can double its volume overnight. Up to 50 percent of an alga's body weight is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees - currently the largest producer of oil to make biofuels - yield just about 20 percent of their weight in oil. Algae are the fastest-growing plants in the world. But if it were easy to extract the fuel, most of the world's biodiesel would already be made from microalgae grown on nonagricultural land, close to coal-fired power plants. It's critical to understand how to select the right algae species, create an optimal photobiological formula for each species, and build a cost-effective photobioreactor that can precisely deliver the formula to each individual algae cell, no matter the size of the facility, or its geographical location.
While its potential is vast, producing biofuel from algae cost-effectively on a large scale is tremendously expensive. There are other technological challenges, including understanding how to identify oil-rich algae and develop processes for extracting algae oil economically.
This comprehensive report provides insight into the global algae biofuels market.
Case studies included:
- Producing Jet Fuels from Algal Lipids - NREL
- Algae Harvesting Advances in New Mexico - CEHMM
- Microalgae and Coal
- Use of Algae in Maui
- Companies Mentioned
- Algae Fuel Systems
- Algae Floating Systems Inc
- AlgaeLink
- Algenol
- Algaewheel
- Aquaflow Binomics
- Aurora Biofuels
- Bio Fuel Systems
- Bionavitas
- Blue Marble Energy
- Cellena
- GS CleanTech
- GreenFuel Technologies
- Iogen Corporation
- Inventure Chemical
- International Energy, Inc
- Live Fuels Inc
- PetroAlgae
- Petro Sun
- Sapphire Energy
- Seambiotic
- Solazyme
- Solix Biofuels
- Solena Group
- Valcent Products Inc
Source: http://www.researchandmarkets.com